Operation Christmas Child

2005 Shoebox Collection

In 2005, Rocks will receive shoe boxes until Sunday, November 13th, at which time we will take them to the Appomattox Collection Center at the Appomattox Baptist Association office. The Relay Center at the Associational Office will be open from Monday through Satruday from 10-2, and 2-4pm on Sunday, November 20th. Karen has materials for anyone who needs them.

For more information on Operation Christmas Child, see the Samaritan's Purse site.

You will find several interesting items on the Samaritan's Purse site to aid in promotion, such as a beautiful certificate of participation to give to children participating in the project. To introduce the child sending the shoebox to the recipient, there is an All About Me coloring page (407Kb pdf) to download, print, and color.

!!Special Easter Tsunami Project!!

Due to the tsunami disaster in the Indian Ocean, Samaritan's Purse delayed its shoebox distribution efforts in countries affected by the disaster. The governments asked Samaritan's Purse to increase the number of shoeboxes to be distributed in these hard-hit areas. Unfortunately, there were not enough shoeboxes to handle the request.

Operation Christmas Child requested that people prepare new shoeboxes to send to the region affected by the tsunami. As this was an emergency response, the normal relay and collection centers were not used, and people were asked to send shoeboxes directly to the Boone, NC processing center.

We collected about 400 boxes at the Appomattox Baptist Association Office and sent them collectively to Boone on March 31st in order to reduce shipping expenses. Operation Christmas Child requested that each of these boxes prepared for the tsunami contain a t-shirt, as many of those affected have lost everything, including clothing. Some churches responded by donating items rather than packed boxes. We received those items for donation at the Associational office, as well as packed boxes and sent them to Boone.

Shoebox Gifts in 2004

In November 2004, we again collected gifts for needy children around the world. We collected 45 boxes at Rocks in 2003. In 2004 we collected 64 boxes. Our relay center in Appomattox increased their collection totals from 1825 in 2003 to 2137 in 2004. Thanks to all who helped to make this effort a success by bringing gifts in shoeboxes for children around the world. Pray that this effort may not only make children happy, but enable them to understand the joy of the good news of Jesus Christ.